Learning for a more just and sustainable world

What is Global Citizenship?

Increasing globalisation means ever increasing interdependence - local issues are now global issues, and vice versa: climate change; current conflicts; trade injustice; child labour to name but a few.

As educators our greatest challenge is to equip our young people with the belief that they can secure their own well-being and build a fairer, more sustainable future for all.

We see Global Citizenship in schools as an active learning process that enables young people to:

understand the links between their own lives and those of people throughout our fast-changing, ‘globalised’ world - the economic, social, political and environmental forces that shape our communities;

develop the skills, attitudes, and values to work together, take control of their own lives and bring about positive change to make the world a better place – a world where power and resources are equitably shared.

GC in the secondary curriculum

Global Citizenship incorporates key concepts of human rights, diversity, conflict resolution, social justice, interdependence and sustainable development. The content and methodology contribute to young people's awareness of the role of values in public life.

The subject-based organisation of the secondary curriculum, subject choice and the pressures of certification create particular challenges for secondary schools in securing an appropriate broad, progressive and relevant experience of global learning for young people. Nevertheless the secondary curriculum abounds with contexts for developing the knowledge, understanding, skills and values associated with Global Citizenship. The aims of Global Citizenship sit well with other educational priorities and have been shown to motivate young people and thus contribute to raising achievement. It ensures a balanced curriculum which supports learners to see connections across subjects.

Planning for Global Citizenship

The key elements of Global Citizenship can be divided into 3 areas; knowledge and understanding, skills and values and attitudes. These elements can create a progressive curriculum which allows for development across levels. Download the following planning sheets to help audit, review and identify appropriate global learning opportunities in your curriculum.

This website has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this website are the sole responsibility of IDEAS and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the European Union.